Madrid to Sarria 5/29

MargaritaMel · Feb 16, 2023

Hola & Good Day
Trying to decide best way to get up to Sarria. Car rental & experience villages along the way or train ? What does the Community suggest and which train schedule is best to use.
Thank you for your time & responses

Tincatinker · Feb 16, 2023

The Madrid - Lugo train stops at Sarria https://www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/horarios

As is usual with RENFE if you search Madrid - Sarria their website will tell you "no trains". Es normal

henrythedog · Feb 16, 2023

MargaritaMel said:
Hola & Good Day
Trying to decide best way to get up to Sarria. Car rental & experience villages along the way or train ? What does the Community suggest and which train schedule is best to use.
Thank you for your time & responses

I’d take the train.

I find Trainline or Rail Europe easiest to use; although both charge a modest booking fee. US users have reported difficulties with US credit cards on the RENFE website - but have found that PayPal works.

RENFE obviously have a great pride in their tracks, to the extent that they seem reluctant to run many trains on them - you’ll often find only a handful of options for any given route. They also regard the very existence of their trains as a state secret, only admitting to a service (which has not varied since time immemorial) a few weeks before departure.

Look for the same weekday next week and it’s highly likely that the same schedule will run in the future.

Book your tickets in advance it’s much cheaper and services often sell-out.

DJames · Feb 16, 2023

I am on the 115 train on 5/27 chamartin to Sarria. I thought of a plane to Santiago then bus to Sarria but that sounded anticlimactic.

I booked using PayPal as trying to use cc in years past caused problems with renfe. Not sure if it is still an issue

El Cascayal · Feb 16, 2023

henrythedog said:
RENFE obviously have a great pride in their tracks, to the extent that they seem reluctant to run many trains on them - you’ll often find only a handful of options for any given route. They also regard the very existence of their trains as a state secret, only admitting to a service (which has not varied since time immemorial) a few weeks before departure.

Good old RENFE! I prefer their website to brokers for the ability to modify your trip since they will not make changes for Trainline.
The Tarjeta Dorada is an awesome perk!

J Willhaus · Feb 16, 2023

I was actually able to see several options Madrid to Sarria on my Renfe App. There is a slower Alvia train direct, but also the option for the AVE fast train to Ourense and then switch to a second train to Sarria. Maybe Renfe is improving their search function?

We rented a car and drove to Zamora one year when we could not get train or bus tickets due to a holiday. At that time car rental was less than the train ticket, but now I believe it would be several times greater. We find we can get most places by bus or train or by foot.

This year we will rent a car in Pamplona to get to our volunteer albergue assignment. It is in a remote hilltop village. No bus and although I think we could get by ordering groceries for delivery, the car will make it less difficult.

MargaritaMel · Feb 16, 2023

J Willhaus said:
I was actually able to see several options Madrid to Sarria on my Renfe App. There is a slower Alvia train direct, but also the option for the AVE fast train to Ourense and then switch to a second train to Sarria. Maybe Renfe is improving their search function?

We rented a car and drove to Zamora one year when we could not get train or bus tickets due to a holiday. At that time car rental was less than the train ticket, but now I believe it would be several times greater. We find we can get most places by bus or train or by foot.

This year we will rent a car in Pamplona to get to our volunteer albergue assignment. It is in a remote hilltop village. No bus and although I think we could get by ordering groceries for delivery, the car will make it less difficult.

Thank you for your response & how wonderful that you are volunteering - something for me to consider in the near future

DJames said:
I am on the 115 train on 5/27 chamartin to Sarria. I thought of a plane to Santiago then bus to Sarria but that sounded anticlimactic.

I booked using PayPal as trying to use cc in years past caused problems with renfe. Not sure if it is still an issue

Thx for your specifics!

pjacobi · Feb 16, 2023

Rental Car? You are thinking like an American!

Think like a European and use public transport.

That's your first cultural lesson and there are so many more. That's why I always recommend getting some independent travel experience in Europe, ***before*** doing your Camino.

-Paul

Bardow · Feb 16, 2023

MargaritaMel said:
Hola & Good Day
Trying to decide best way to get up to Sarria. Car rental & experience villages along the way or train ? What does the Community suggest and which train schedule is best to use.
Thank you for your time & responses

Hola, ir por tren desde Madrid a Sarria fue una gran experiencia.

Trenes Renfe

¡Buen Camino!

MargaritaMel · Feb 17, 2023

pjacobi said:
Rental Car? You are thinking like an American!

Think like a European and use public transport.

That's your first cultural lesson and there are so many more. That's why I always recommend getting some independent travel experience in Europe, ***before*** doing your Camino.

-Paul

MargaritaMel · Feb 17, 2023

pjacobi said:
Rental Car? You are thinking like an American!

Think like a European and use public transport.

That's your first cultural lesson and there are so many more. That's why I always recommend getting some independent travel experience in Europe, ***before*** doing your Camino.
Was your response to my inquiry really being helpful or just addressing how Americans think? I’ve traveled throughout Europe in all fashions minus bike, horse & piggy back. It was a simple inquiry for wanting to get from Point A to Point B if the train schedule does not coincide with my available time. I suggest you ***think*** before responding.

MM

pjacobi said:
-Paul

MargaritaMel · Feb 17, 2023

Bardow said:
Hola, ir por tren desde Madrid a Sarria fue una gran experiencia.

Trenes Renfe

¡Buen Camino!

Mil Gracias!

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